Molded table cover



July 4, 1933. QTT ET AL I 1,916,435

MOLDED TABLE COVER Filed May 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Ernes/ H.0// &

.Ben am/n J. Gudye. V

4-, ATTORNEY July 4, 1933. E. H. OTT El AL MOLDED TABLE COVER Filed May 14. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 4, 1933. E H, cm H AL 1,916,435

MOLDED TABLE COVER Filed May 14. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W//////////// /////fl INVEN' s.

&

fmesi H Ben 'amin J Gdye.

Patented July 4, 1933 I Y I i UNITED STATES PATENT: o Frcr:

ERNEST H. OTT, F PITTSBURGH, AND BENJ'AMIN J. GUDGFl, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING GOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MOLDED TABLE coviin Application filed m 1'4, 1 aao. Serial in. 4.52.234.

Our invention relates to composite 81- by referring to the accompanying drawings, ticles and more particularly to table tops orin which. covers composed of laminatedsheet material Figure 1 is a perspective view. of a table and to rocesses of producing the same. provlded with aucover formed of molded lam- An o ject of our invention IStO provide inated material.

anfimproved table top formed of laminated Fig. 2 is a erspective view showing howj material that may be easily maintained in a two roups 0 sheets may be folded to form sanitary condition and which is unatfected the anges on the table; by heat, moisture, acids and most alliall Fig. 3"is a similar view showing flanges Another object of our invention is to proon two adja t groups f h t vide an improved table cover formed of a .Fig. .4 is a cross sectional view of a mold composite, unitary structure which shall havea d a tool for preforming the sheets. side flan es, by means of which it may be Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enreadily c amped upon an ordlnary tab1e, and larged scale, taken through the corner of a -5 a rolled rim or apron for e a ng' Objects preformed structure.

placed upon its surface. p Fig. 6 isa view, similar to Fig. 5. showing 4 A stillf-urther ob ect of our invention 1s a difi ti to provide a process of form1ng table p Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, similar to which comprises preformlng layers of fi r Fig. 2, showing the sheets notched in a differ- 2o sheet material which have been impregnated 7 t manner, I with ,a binder, assembllng h preformed Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a Structure n d having a matrix of 'P mold, and a plurality of sheets placed in the eial contour, and molding the She g rmatrix of the moldbefore hat and pressure As is well known, it is customary, 1n hosh b en applied. A

pitals, to provide tables nea th beds on i Fig. 9. isa similar view of the mold after which medicine and various artlcles may be h t nd pressure have been applied and o placed that they may be readlly accesslbl showing the improved table top as molded.

to the patient or whlch may be employed as Fig. 10 is a planview showing the mold a depository for various medicinal articles tili d i ti i th i ti v5o during the examination or treatment of the Fig 1 i an l d i h i th 30 pati nt Tables heretofore employed for contour of the matrix of the mold in which Such P p have usually e constrPcted the rolled margin of the table is formed. of metal and have not been entirely satlsfac- I In ti i our i ti fib h t tory because of a tendency to corrode and bematerial, which is fe bl composed of 35 cause they are readily attacked by acids and paper although layers o cloth or duck may 85 alkalis or Qther liquids lvhml y be acci' be interspersed between the layers of paper, dentaHy d pi gl agfi p are impregnated with a suitable binder, such We have 9 e lscpvery a Sm as a phenolic condensation product, and asable cover or top-forsuch tables may be readsembledin a predetermined manner. In l 11y prepared assembhng- Plurahty 5 'der to provide a suitable corner structure, a layers of-fibrous-sheet inatena lmp-r'egnate luralitv oflayers 1 and 1' are provided with with a suitable binder, 1n a mold having a map notches 2 and 3 cut inthe respective trix of a special contour, and applyin pressure in such manner that an article will be comers of each group of Sheets? It W111 be 45 formed that has a rolled upwardly-extendnoted that-the P on P f' ing rim, at its margin, and downwardly e group of sheets extend 1n a different d1rect1on tending flanges by means of which it may be h h a notches 011 the pp g readily clamped to a-table such asis ordiof sheets, so that,'when the sheets are bent narily employed in a hospital or in a kitchen. on the dotted llne 4 and formed 1nto an asv 50 Ourinvention will be better understood sembled structure, the overlapping. flanges on sheets 1 will be in staggered relation to the overlapping flanges 6 on the sheet 1.

A plurality of sheets 1 and 1' may be formed as shown in Fig. 3 6f the drawings.

The preformed sheets 1 may then be placed over the preformed sheets 1. Thisoperation may be performed by hand or, if desired, it may be accomplished by means of the preformer disclosed in Fig. 4 of the drawings. For example, a plurality of sheets, notched in the manner disclosed in Fig. 2, may be placed over the'mold 7 and folded in a manner shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of sheets 1 are then placed over the folded sheetl, and in turn, folded in the manner disclosed in Fig. 3. Anappropriate tool 8 is then laced over the assembled sheets which preorms them into an assembled structure ready to be placed in the mold.

A cross-sectional view through the corner of the sheets, assembled and preformed in the .5 of the drawings.

manner specified, is shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the overlapping flanges 5 on the interior sheets are in staggered relation to the overlapping flanges 6 on the outer layers. The assembly of the sheets in such inannor is particularly advantageous because it enables the formation of smooth interior and exterior surfaces and will ordinarily provide a corner having the requisite strength, although, if desired, additional reinforcing corners composed of paper, duck, or even of the adjacent layers, as shown at 7 in Fig.

The method'of notching and folding the blanks disclosed in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, is very satisfactory, when paper, or paper inter- 12 in Fig. 6, and occupiesth'espace formed by the notch. 8. In the same manner, the'tongue -11 is folded at the corner 12 and occupies the space formed by cutting out the notch Q. A plurality. of sheets 1 and 1 are arranged in alternate-layers, and the corners are formed, as shown in Fig. 6. This. operation may be preformed by hand or the alternate sheets may be placed upon each other on the mold 7,

' the side flanges bent down on the dotted lines,

the corners so arranged that theywill fit into i the respective notchesprovided for them and the @001 8 pressed down over the assembledti'onship.

layers'to maintain them in preformed rela- .wire mesh, may be interposed between some jection 17 are placed in the mold, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

A central block 18,.of 'nverted frusto-pyramidal shape, is then placed in the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and pressure is applied by means of a platen"1-9. The

corner blocks 15" are provided with notches '20 to engage the corners of block 18. As the platen 19 descends, it first engages the block 18. and forces the side and corner blocks outwardly against the upwardly turned flanges 21 of the sheets. i

As the platen 19 descends, it enga es the side and corner blocks 15 and 16, an pressure is exerted upon the bottom of the fibrous material 22, and the projection 17 is forced into the depressions 15, forming the rolled margin 23. During the application of pressure, the fibrous material is heated in a manner well known in the art, thus causing the binder to flow, the pressure compacting the softened material. Upon continued application of heat and pressure, theentire mass solidifies to form a composite, integral struc- 7 .ture.

Theblocks are provided with screw holes 24' for receiving screwsby means of which the blocks may -be removed from the mold. The molded table top may be then removed and applied to -a table, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. During the application of pressure on the central block 18, and, subsequently, on the other blocks 15 and 16, a substantially uniform pressure is exerted against the entire inner structure of the 0 I l n fibrous materlal, whereby an article having a uniform cross-section is produced.

The binder employed in impregnating the fibrous material maybe any of the well known binders thatharden under heat and pressure, such as the well known phenolic condensation products or the various urea or thiourea resins. The upper and lower sheets The preformed ,sheets are next placed in a mold having a special construction, as fied is especially adapted for tables employed shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawin hospitals because it may be maintained any one ofvarious designs;

employed in producing the table may be formed of paper upon which symbols resembling the grain of wood, have-been print/ed .or, if desired, theupper and lower sheets may be made of cloth, in which event, the surface of the table may be formed to embody "A tabletop made in the manner speci- 65 ings. The mold is composed of a base plate in a sanitary condition without difliculty and I 30 flanges.

is resistant toheat, moisture, acids, and most alkalis'. The material hereindesoribed may be placed on tables having tops composed of various materials, such as wood or metal, the downwardly extending flangesv enabling it to be clamped securely in place, while the rolled edges prevent articles from rolling off; We do not desire, however, to limit our in-' vention to covers for hospital tables, because, obviously, it has many applications, such as covers for kitchen tables or, because of its pleasing appearance, the material .is es ecially suitable for utilization as covers or card tables.

While we have described our invention in considerable detail, and have given specific examples, it will be understood that the specific construction should be construed as illustrative and not by way of limitation, and,- in view of the numerous modifications which may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, it is desired that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A table cover formed of molded laminated material and having ,a continuous up.-

per' surface and downwardly extending "2.,A table cover formed of molded laminated sheet material having a continuous upper surface rolled rim at its margin to pre- 1 vent articles or liquid from being easily displaced from its surface,

3. A' table cover formed of molded lami nated sheet material impregnated with a heathardened binder, said cover having a contin-' uous upper surface, a rolled rim at its margin 4 for preventing articles from being displaced from its surface, and downwardly extending flanges to enable it to be clamped on a table;

4. A table cover formed of molded laminat ed sheets having smooth exterior and interior surfaces, a continuous upper surface, a rolled margin and downwardly extending. flanges.

52 A table. cover, formed of molded-material impregnated with a heat hardened bind-' er, having a continuous upper surface comprising a substantially flat central portion and a rolled rim, formin aperipheral upwardly extending border or said central portion and preventing articles deposited-upon the fiat portion from being displaced there- 5 from, said table cover also being provided with downwardly extending it to be applied to the table.

i 6. A table cover, formed of molded laminated sheet material impregnated with a heat hardened binder, having a continuous upper surface comprising a substantially flat central portion, an upwardly extending rolled rim surrounding said central ortion for preventing articles from' being isplaced therefrom and downwardly extending flanges'to a com flanges to enable tially fiat central portion, an upwardly rolled rim surrounding said central portion for preventing articles being displaced therefrom and downwardly extending flangesto enable the cover to be applied to a table, the corners of saidtable being providing with reinforc ing means.

8. The

against adjacent flanges, thereby forming a smooth interior surface, preparinga plurality ofadditional sheets in the same manner with the exception that the outwardly extendin tongues on the sheets are bent in-teriorly o the adjacent flange, assembling the additional sheets over thosc p'reviously assembled,}and

process of producingtable coverswhich comprises cutting L-shaped. notches inmolding the entire assembly under heat and 1 pressure to form ,atable cover having a reinforced corner structure and smoothinterior and exterior surfaces;

\ 9. The process of producing table covers a which comprises cutting notches in a plural- Y ity of rectangular sheets of fibrous material,

impregnated with a binder capable of being hardened under heat and pressure, bending the margin of the sheets to form upwardly extending flanges, assembling a plurality-of sheets in overlapping engagement with,each-- other, inserting reinforcing means between some of the'shects at the corners, and. molding the assembly under heat and pressure to form site structure.

10. he process of producing table covers which comprises cutting .notches in a plurality of sheets of fibrous material impregnated with a binder capable of being hardened under heat and pressure, bending the sheets to form upwardly extending flanges, assembling a plurality of such sheets in engagin relation with each other, inserting rein orcing' strips between some of the sheets at the 'corners so as to make engagement with two adjacent flanges, placing the'assembly ina press having a matrix provided with a main fiat bottom portion surrounded by a depressed portion and upwardly extendingflanges and molding the assembly under heat and presi .ERNEST. H. OTT. BENJAMIN J. ,GUDGE." 

